Former shipyard worker pleads guilty to arson aboard the USS Miami

Thursday

Nov 8, 2012 at 10:08 AMNov 8, 2012 at 1:47 PM

PORTLAND, Maine — United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today that Casey James Fury, 24, formerly of Portsmouth, N.H., waived indictment earlier today before U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal in Portland and pleaded guilty to an information charging him with two counts of arson on and around the USS Miami on May 23 and June 16 this year.

PORTLAND, Maine — United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced today that Casey James Fury, 24, formerly of Portsmouth, N.H., waived indictment earlier today before U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal in Portland and pleaded guilty to an information charging him with two counts of arson on and around the USS Miami on May 23 and June 16 this year.

The Miami is a United States Navy Los Angeles Class attack submarine undergoing an overhaul at the U.S. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). Fury was employed as a painter and sandblaster at PNSY until his arrest on July 23. He has been detained since his arrest.

According to the U.S. Attorney, Fury admitted in open court that he willfully and maliciously set a fire on the Miami on May 23, which placed the lives of people on and around the submarine in jeopardy. Miami crew members and firefighters from the PNSY Fire Department and surrounding communities battled the May 23 fire for about 12 hours, finally extinguishing it on the morning of May 24. At least five first responders suffered injuries. Fury also pleaded guilty to setting a second fire in the dry dock area below the Miami on June 16, which was quickly extinguished and caused no injuries.

The first arson charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The second arson charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. The maximum fine for each count is $250,000 or the cost of repairing or replacing any property damage, whichever is greater. Fury will be sentenced after completion of a pre-sentence report by the U.S. Probation Office.

According to the plea agreement, the parties stipulated that the loss amount was between $200 million and $400 million for purposes of calculating the advisory sentencing guideline range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The agreement also states that the stipulated loss amount may not reflect the final cost of repairing the damage done to the USS Miami. The parties agreed to recommend a federal prison sentence of between 15 and 19 years.

This case was investigated by the agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.